MacDailyNews

Apple has released a new update to XProtect, its built-in malware protection tool, for all macOS versions. This update bumps XProtect to version 5351 (from 5347) — the first broad release since early June — and adds fresh detection rules for several threats, including the Boatload stealer family and new osascript-based malware. As usual, Apple provides no public details on the specific threats…

I've spent the last few weeks testing AI companion apps the way I'd test any tool I plan to trust with personal data, and the differentiator that kept pulling SweetDream ahead wasn't the flashiest demo reel. It was the quiet confidence of its privacy-first design. On sweetdream.ai, the entire experience is built around the idea that your conversations and your generated content belong to you, full stop. That framing changes how the whole product feels.

What surprised me on closer inspection is that discretion doesn't come at the cost of capability. You still get the deeply customizable character creation, where you shape your AI girlfriend's looks, voice, backstory and little quirks, and you still get chat that genuinely remembers context instead of resetting every session. The privacy layer just sits underneath all of it, unobtrusive but constant.

Apple’s Pad mini 7 Apple is preparing a meaningful comeback for its smallest iPad. Fresh reports indicate the next iPad mini will swap its current Liquid Retina LCD for a modern OLED display, delivering the biggest visual and quality leap since the 2021 redesign. Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman suggests the OLED upgrade could land as soon as October. Expected Upgrades • Display: 8.4-inch OLED panel…

Apple TV has announced season five of the award-winning animated kids and family series “Stillwater,” premiering with five new episodes on August 21, 2026. Apple TV on Thursday announced an all-new season five of the beloved, award-winning animated kids and family series “Stillwater,” premiering with five episodes on Friday, August 21, 2026. Based on the bestselling Scholastic “Zen” book series…

In a major boost to American domestic manufacturing, the Trump Administration today announced that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is committing an additional $100 billion in investments for advanced semiconductor facilities in the United States. This brings TSMC’s total planned investment to $265 billion — one of the largest foreign direct investments in American history. The…

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature a thermal management system that includes an Apple-designed vapor chamber, delivering exceptional performance. Apple has significantly boosted its orders for vapor chamber cooling systems, primarily to support production of its highly anticipated first foldable iPhone, according to a Chinese supply chain leaker. The move also points to advanced thermal management…

Apple is preparing to introduce advertising to its Maps app in the United States and Canada this summer, but the company has drawn some distinctly Apple-style lines in the sand about who gets to advertise there. In a new Advertising Services policy update, Apple explicitly prohibits several ad categories from appearing in search results and Suggested Places within Maps. The banned list includes…

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a major Apple supplier and the world’s largest contract chipmaker, has reported an outstanding second-quarter performance that underscores the relentless momentum in the artificial intelligence sector. According to Reuters, TSMC posted a 77% jump in second-quarter net profit on Thursday, beating market forecasts and hitting a record high, driven…

If you’ve ever sent what you thought was a clear butterfly emoji only for your friend to see something totally different, or used a cucumber when you really meant “I’m in a full-on pickle,” Apple is about to make your iMessage life a lot smoother. The latest Unicode Emoji 18.0 release, heading to all capable Apple devices next spring, brings fresh symbols while standardizing old ones so everyone…

In Nasdaq trading today, shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) rose $12.64 to $327.50 to hit a new all-time closing high. Apple’s all-time intraday high was also set today at $328.72. Apple’s 52-week low stands at $201.50. Today’s trading volume for AAPL shares was 58,741,821 versus Apple’s average trading volume of 54,375,570 shares. Apple’s PE Ratio currently stands at 39.70. Apple currently has a market…

Apple has rolled out its official 2026 sales tax holiday guide, giving shoppers in select U.S. states a timely opportunity to purchase popular products like Macs, iPads, iPhones, and accessories without paying state sales tax. The promotions vary widely by state in terms of dates, eligible items, and spending caps, so timing and research are key to maximizing savings. When the Tax Holidays…

Major League Soccer resumes its regular season in July after a summer of international soccer. Major League Soccer (MLS) returns to Apple TV tomorrow, July 16, as regular-season play resumes and the league welcomes fans back following a monthlong break for the FIFA World Cup. Apple TV subscribers in more than 100 countries and regions can watch every MLS match with no blackouts. Subscribers also…

Apple is quietly shopping for AI chip companies. According to a new report from The Information, the company has been approaching chip startups and consulting with bankers about potential acquisitions — a notable shift for a firm long known for its reluctance to make big hardware buys. The move comes as Apple grapples with limitations in its current AI infrastructure. Its Private Cloud Compute…

Devid Striesow, Axel Stein, Heike Makatsch and Torben Liebrecht in “Where’s Wanda?” season two, premiering October 21, 2026 on Apple TV. Apple TV on Wednesday revealed first look images and the season two premiere date for celebrated German-language dark comedy series “Where’s Wanda?” Produced by UFA Fiction, the eight-episode season stars International Emmy Award nominee Heike Makatsch (“Love…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its Producer Price Index (PPI) data for June 2026 today, showing a 0.3% decline in the index for final demand on a seasonally adjusted basis. This marks a reversal from the 0.6% rise in May and the stronger 1.1% increase in April. U.S. inflation is coming down. On a year-over-year basis, producer prices rose 5.5% through June, down from the…

With its new architecture and capabilities, the next generation of Apple Intelligence powers helpful features across the system, simplifying the things users do every day. China’s cyberspace regulator has officially registered Apple’s on-device generative AI service, Apple Intelligence, for use in the country. This marks a significant step toward the long-awaited launch of the feature for Chinese…

Apple’s HomePod OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, the AI for newbies who don’t know better alternatives exist, is stepping into consumer hardware with its first device: a movable, screen-free smart speaker designed as an always-on AI companion for the home. According to a Bloomberg News report, the product — still in development — aims to control smart-home devices, play media, answer…

In a significant victory for Apple, a U.S. federal judge has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through its iCloud storage service. The ruling relies heavily on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content. U.S. District…